Complaint Review: Greenway Ford

To whom this may concern:

Where to begin first, let me start by saying my experience with Greenway Ford is probably one of the worst experiences I've ever had in doing business with a company, let me rephrase that, it is the worst experience I've ever had. I am a former Marine who has fought in a foreign war, currently a Firefighter Paramedic; and someone who takes great pride in my country and what we stand for in this great nation. I had been looking for two weeks at different dealerships and trucks to buy, due to my own Dodge truck having problems. I looked at Nissan Titans, Toyota Tundra's, and the Ford F-150 all great trucks in there own regards. What I liked about the Ford Company was with all the issues surrounding the American car makers; Ford did not take the bail out. I am an American made kind of guy, and liked what Ford was portraying in there efforts to do the right thing and not take the bailout. I've worked hard for my credit score since I joined the military and when it looked like I couldn't pay bills I got another job on the side or found a way to afford it rather than taking the easy way out. That is what I felt Ford has done. Yes, foreign cars are being built in America now; but it is the working class people of this country's past who have built the Ford Company and others like it, and made this country what it is today; and I hold true to that. Let me get off my soap box about that issue and began to tell you the real reason I am writing this letter.

I called a couple of dealerships the day before I went down to Greenway Ford to get price quotes on vehicles due to not wanting to drive all over with my Dodge truck, because of the shape it was in. I asked about pricing and also let them know my engine had some problems and was making noises. I told them the specific truck I wanted and also all the specs I wanted on it and Greenway Ford was the best price. The next day after getting off my shift from the Fire department I headed to Greenway to buy the truck when my Dodge broke down on me, yes the worst luck ever. I called the nearest Ford dealership which wasn't Greenway and let them know my situation. I told them I was heading to Greenway Ford; they looked at their inventory and told me to bring it in that they had the truck I wanted specs and all. I then called Greenway to explain my situation they said to bring it in that I would not be disappointed and I'm quoting the sales person's words exactly. I called back the other place and let them know I was bringing the truck to Greenway so he wouldn't be sitting around waiting and told him the price Greenway quoted me over the phone. He looked it up on there computer inventory and said Greenway wasn't showing they had the model I wanted, and he also stated he knows of them doing this in the past. I called back Greenway to ask the same sales person if they definitely had the model I was looking for with all the specs. He then stated that he pulled it to the front of the lot for me and said and I quote again why would I lie your going to come down and pick it up.

I called a tow truck to pick my Dodge up and take me to Greenway and when I arrived the sales person was not there who I talked to. Another sales person took me out to see the truck, and it was the WRONG truck, they didn't have the one I was looking for ANYWHERE on the lot. Speaking with a friend after my experience who was a car sales person, he told me this is common practice of unethical dealerships. When the sales person I spoke with over the phone arrived he gave me the excuse of it was just a misunderstanding. He said this after I confirmed with him that same day if he had the specific truck I was looking for. Then he stated he could get the truck from another dealership but it would be more money due to giving me a quote on the truck he pulled into the front lot. The other dealership was giving me the deal I was looking for with the exact same options within the price range I could afford in which now Greenway stated they couldn't do it for the same price as them, and it would be a lot more for the truck. After arguing with them for three hours back and forth in between having to call for another tow truck they walked out to where I was and offered me the same deal so I cancelled the tow due to this day already being a hassle and paying for a tow, and walked back inside. The sales manager walked back out and handed me the paper and said we wrote it back up and when I reviewed the new figures it was still short $100.00, he did that Wizard of Oz thing where you don't see the actual guy who makes the decisions you just see the munchkins, when I commented about it he said and I'm not quoting the sales person but the mighty Oz wasn't willing to match the other offer. I asked him to throw in a bed extender and he said ok, but he would have to order it, and that it would be there in a week. We spoke about getting a low finance rate as well to keep my payments within a certain range, and he said with my good credit banks are giving low credit rates in the 4% to 4.75% range. When I went to the finance person he said banks were not going low on their rates, and it would be in the 6% to 7% range. I also had to struggle with him before I could get a 5.75% finance rate, and that was after 2 phone calls to my bank that offered me that rate (which they then matched).

When I finally decided that I was going to get the exact truck I wanted (remember the truck was not physically on the lot and was trusting that at this point they would not try to deceive me) I agreed to the deal they offered and bought the truck. I found it strange that as soon as I signed the papers, the salesman that was heading up this whole ordeal was no where to be found; another sales person finished up with me, and told me the other guy had to leave suddenly . They gave me a loaner till my truck was delivered, the next day the truck arrived. I was on duty at the fire station, and told them I would drive out to pick up the truck. I got the truck the next day, and started to drive my way home which is an hour away. It was at the moment as I looked in my rearview mirror that I had NO SLIDING WINDOW! This was one of the most important features I needed on the truck. My Dodge truck had one (which I put in myself), and my new truck had to have one as well. The importance for this is due to the fact that I have a trained attack dog that I transport in the bed within a crate. I have to be able to have verbal access to the dog at all times this is something I not just forget to mention to them. It to me was one of the most important specs that I required. It was stressed in all the phone calls to the dealer, as well as, the face-to-face conversation with the sales team at Greenway. If I had been told that it did NOT have a slider when I asked for it; then I would have gone to one of the other Ford dealers that did have the truck with the sliding window. Once again a deceitful lie told to me so they could make another unethical sale. When in front of him, I was explaining the truck didn't have the slider, he told me he never said I mentioned it and that I was lying. I lost all patience with this dealership; no person should have to be treated in this manner, or sold something under false pretences. I only want the truck to have EXACTLY what I asked for and EXACTLY what was promised.

Before I ever got to the place, this dealership lied to me. When I was there they treated me with no respect, had no concern for my financial situation to make my payments affordable in order to provide for my family, and also used unethical tactics to deceive me. I don't think anyone should be treated like this, I was in a bind and they preyed off my dilemma. I have fought for this country and continue in my career path to help others; I would want that same respect from people I do business with. Ford is an American company and this dealership to me is not what the American values stand for.

Mr.Smith
Central FL, Florida
U.S.A.

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